Car-coupling



D. S. BAILEY; Gar Coupling No, 232588. Patented Sept. 28,1880.

MPEFERS, MOYO-LITHOGRAFHER WASHINGTON u c PATENT DANIEL S. BAILEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.232,588, dated September 28,1880,

Application filed April 3, 1879. v I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL S. BAILEY, of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic (Jar Couplers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings.

The nature of my improvement consists in placing on opposite ends of the car draw-bars with a slit opening on their sides, forming a longitudinal recess, and arranging hooks fastened or pivoted in the recesses so as to operate by vibrating in a horizontal way, in connection with a spring arranged and secured within the draw-bar so as to press against the pivoted hooks, and in combination with a couplingbar with hooks formed on each end, arranged so that the hooks are on the opposite sides of the draw-bar, all formed and arranged so as to couple cars automatically.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the coupler attached to opposite ends of two cars, and held in position when coupled together. Fig. 2 shows side view of the draw-bar. Fig. 3 shows the coupling-bar. Fig. 4 shows open flanged end of draw-bar.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of drawings.

A represents the draw-bars. The bars ,are made of cast-iron or other material, of sufficient length to accommodate any space under or on the end of a car. hey are hollowed out from end to end, and left open at the projecting end, and an open space is cut into the side narrow in width, but running from the center of the bar each way toward the end, or within two or four inches of the ends.

The draw-bar should be made of su'fficient heft and thickness to secure the strength required in drawing a train of cars, and it can be made of any size to fit the space under and at the end of a car and for any size car, but need not be any heavier or different than the draw-bars generally and commonly now in use.

B shows a hook or jaw, which is provided at one end with a notch or tooth, formed in such a way as to receive and hold firm a corresponding-shaped notch or tooth when placed in position and locked. After the formation of the tooth it is enlarged in the center and circled on the inside, and a hole drilled through the enlarged circular part to admit a bolt or screw to fasten it firmly into the hollow space a, near the center of the draw-bar. It should be made ofwrought-iron or steel, and of the size and thickness to fill the space ain the side of the draw-bar.

0 shows a flat elongated spring firmly secured at the flat or straight end on the inside of the draw-bar, while the opposite end isheld firmly in such a manner as to press against and outwardly on the beveled end of the hook or jaw B. The spring should be made of the best material used in springs, but can be made of any form to do the Work required.

I) shows a bar furnished with hooks or teeth at each end, set in opposite directions. formed at the ends in such a way as to easily enter into the projecting end of the draw-bar, andit passes by the notch or tooth formed upon the hook B, and drops down over and on the inside of the hook or jaw B, and by the operation of the spring 0 pressing against thereverse end of the hook or jaw B the coupling-bar is securely and firmlylocked into thedraw-bar. It can be made of any required length or thickness, but should be made of iron, and of sufficient heft to secure strength to draw a train ,of loaded cars, but no heavier than the coupling links or appliances now in use.

E shows the open or flanged end of the draw-bar. It is of the same material as the draw-bar and a part of it. It is left open or flanged outwardly at the extreme end, then runs back toward the center of the hollow space in the draw-bar. The space is narrowed,

so as to receive and guide the end of the coupling-bar against the tooth or hook on the jaw B. It may be made of any size or thickness, and can be used as a bumper.

The operation of my improved automatic car-coupler is as follows: When cars are to be coupled, one end of the coupling-bar D is inserted into the projecting end E of the drawbar, and forced into the opening far enough to press against the tooth or hook of the jaw B, thus forcing the hook or jaw outward to a point indicated by the dotted lines 0. When the hook ,B is in this position it allows the end of the coupling-bar D to pass to the inner side of the tooth or" hook on the jaw B, and when in this position the spring 0, pressing outward and against the opposite end of the jaw B, causes the jaw B to be forced back into a secure position, and firmly and securely locks into the hollow space in the end of the draw-bar A, thus coupling bar D, and holding it in such a position that the reverse end of the coupling-bar is at the same angle and level with the draw-bar, and projects far enough from the end of the car to be received and entered into the end of a coupling-bar similarly constructed and fastened onto the end of the opposite car; and the operation of entering and fastening the reverse end. of the coupling-bar D into the draw-bar is accomplished by simply pushing the cars together with sufficient force to press the end vof coupling-bar against the tooth on the jaw B, thus coupling car after car without requiring or admitting any person to go between cars at any time of the operation.

v To uncouple cars with my invention various devi'ces may be attached or used, any one of which can be attached or applied at either side or end or top of a car, any connection made so as to reach the outside of the jaw-B, so as to pull the jaw B outwardly and press against the spring inwardly, which relieves the end of the coupling-bar D and allows it to drop out freely.

I am aware of Letters Patent No. 138,748, issued to Goolevan, May 13,1873; also, No. 25,938 issued to Barnes, November 1,1859; also, No. 4,073, reissue, to Van Slyke and l/Vood, July 12, 1870; but my invention is not described or claimed in either of said patents, and I hereby disclaim all the device and combination therein shown.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

The draw-bars A, provided with longitudiu'al openings or recesses a. in their sides, arranged on opposite .ends of the car, in combination with the couplinghooks B, pivoted within the recesses a, and arranged to vibrate horizontally, the springs O, and the couplingbar D, provided with end hooks arranged on opposite sides thereof, substantially-as and for the purpose set forth.

DANIEL S. BAILEY.

WVitnesses:

HERBERT E. TEAS, JOHN H. WHIPPLE. 

